Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Party over Principle?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
This past Friday morning, Arlen Specter was at a town hall meeting in Ross Township (suburb north of Pittsburgh PA). According to Specter staffer Justin Lokay, this was at the suggestion of Lou Nudi, the Ross Committee Chairman.
There were about 35 people in attendance including the Senator and 5 or 6 staffers and interns. Also there was Congresswoman Melissa Hart, State Senator John Pippy, former Hart staffer and 16th state house district candidate Pat Geho, former row office candidate Becky Toomey (oh, the irony, but she is still the prettiest, and my favorite Specter supporter), Lou Nudi, as well as some various other local committee people. Arriving late as usual was State Representative Jeff Habay. More on him later.
I arrived shortly before the meeting started and checked to see if I was on the PNG (persona non grata) list, but was welcomed in, much to my surprise because I have been barred from previous events. I sat and listened to how conservative values were important to Arlen, how much he enjoys being around G.W.Bush, and how we must defeat the Democrats.
This is a pretty stock speech when he tries to court Republicans. Sadly too many pubbies have short memories and actually believe Arlen when he speaks. He invoked the name of his recent challenger, Pat Toomey and says that he enjoys his support because the Dem candidate is so bad. Yada, yada, yada . . .
He then tried to ingratiate himself by mentioning the names of several people in the crowd. There names were conveniently written on the cue card in his hand. The whole thing was a sad charade, but that didn't stop many from sucking it up. I don't know if they were all die hard supporters or simply supporting the "R" against the horrible "D" that looms ahead if we don't support Arlen.
He then 'yielded' to Melissa Hart. She yucked it up with him for a moment (Think Sonny and Cher, except that Sonny was the conservative, not Cher.) before he stepped aside. About now, there should have been a commercial break, but they continued anyway. Melissa then spoke in glowing terms of Arlen and how important it was to put Arlen into office so that he could chair the Judiciary Committee and help get Bush's judicial nominees approved. She cited the brave defense of former PA Attorney General Mike Fisher when some Democrats posed some minor opposition to Mike's approval. Thank God, Arlen was there to save the day and he convinced the Dems not to block him. BTW, Fisher was supported in his quest for the bench by his recent opponent for the Governor's office - Democrat Governor Ed Rendell. Gee, that must have been a tough fight, Arlen.
What no Borking of Fisher? Don't worry, if Mike starts to make some sound judgements, you can bet that Arlen will apologize like he did after fighting for Clarence Thomas.
Melissa was about 3 minutes into her praise when I just couldn't take it any longer. There she was defending the man that has been pissing on us for years and she was calling it rain. I walked out. On the way out, I said to her brother that I just couldn't stand the BS.
I stayed outside for the remainder of the meeting. I missed the Q and A session, but was told that there was only one tough question asked and that Arlen spent about ten minutes addressing it. The question may have hit a nerve, but I doubt that he will do anything more than pay lip service to it.
Some good news. There was some who expressed continued opposition to him despite coming to be convinced that they should now be supporting him.
I did tell Melissa's aide that I was not alone in my displeasure with her support of Arlen. She may or may not care, but I am sure that I am quite right in my assessment. She is putting the party before any principle she ever espoused and this will cost her later.
Another person that I engaged was Rep. Habay. He arrived only after I had left the meeting and was outside for about 15 minutes. He approached me as he entered the building and I greeted him with a snide remark that he resembled a man that I used to know and told him that I was disappointed in his support for Arlen. He told me that Arlen helped him early in his 'career' (God, I hate that word when applied to politicians.) and that he was repaying the favor. (Doesn't the mob do favors now for favors in the future too?) I told him that that is what happens when you get into bed with the wrong people. He started getting testy at that point (I have to keep the BAD in badray, ya know) and retorted that he wasn't in bed with anyone, but that he would be glad to sit down and discuss the issue with me. I said OK, but he needed to dig himself out of a big hole. Walking away, he said that he was very comfortable in his position. I thanked him for telling me what I needed to know as he turned the corner (more than metaphorically?).
Just before Arlen came out, I spoke to County GOP Chairman Rich Stampahar and he tried to convince me that Specter was the man to support. His pleas fell on deaf ears, but they were overheard by an intern of Specter's who wimpily came over to tell me that this was a private event and asked me not to create a disturbance. I replied only that I was talking to people that knew me and approached me and wasn't talking to any one else. Can you imagine anyone thinking that I would cause a disturbance? LOL Not me, I'm too shy.
On the way out, Arlen either didn't recognize me or thought that I went over to the dark side and was now a supporter. He approached me to shake my hand, but I politely declined. I reserve my handshake for those that I respect.
Maybe I'm just not a 'good republican'. Maybe I'm an 'unappeasable'. Maybe I am a purist. I've been called all of these things and more. And worse.
What I do know is that I cannot support this man. Not for party loyalty, not even for the Senate majority (we do not effectively have it now because of people like Specter). I also know that it is not out of bitterness or hatred. It's just principle. He doesn't believe the things that I believe. He doesn't value the things that I value. His vision of America is not my vision.
This November, a vote for Democrat Joe Hoeffel is a vote to put a true conservative, a true Republican in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm voting for Joe.
Ray Horvath
Jim,
I'm going to have you do my writing for me. You said what I was trying to say and you did it much better. Thanks.
Thanks Doc.
Well said.
Specter provided political cover with his silly vote.
I'm also glad to see that someone else remembers Massiah-Jackson. What a nightmare she would have been. Maybe he can use the fact that he had a brain tumor as the reason that he supported her.
Thank you for putting things into perspective. The 'party' is NOT the reason for my existence or what keeps me going.
My faith and my principles are far more important than a loose collection of politicians seeking power and vane glory for themselves.
Thanks Doug. Being from PA, you've also seen firsthand the two faced, lying, duplicitous, 'say whatever you have to say to whoever you're talking to' kind of politician Specter has always been. This is our last ditch effort to rid ourselves of him.
Had Bush and Santorum stayed on the sidelines, we wouldn't be faced with this option at all. We'd have Specter gone, Toomey in, AND Kyl chairing the SJC.
Thanks for your kind words and the sage advice from the first GW.
If we had a good alternative or a chance to replace Specter with someone of Toomey's caliber, I would support them whole heartedly, but there isn't and a third party or write in is mathematically and practically impossible.
Each vote for the (yuck) Dem means that Specter needs two votes to overcome it. I realize that a lot of people cannot do what I am advocating. I just hope enough can to pull this off. But a vote FOR Specter will only make him more arrogant and 'independent' than he already is, God forbid he should win. He will be insufferable.
Then I have to find a candidate for 2010 to replace Hoeffel. I went looking for a candidate to replace Specter back in 2001. Toomey's name kept coming up. Two years before he decided to accept the challenge, we were bringing him to Western PA to make his name a household commodity. He shocked everyone with how well he did here, the opposite end of the state from where is lives. He overwhelmingly won here - even in the liberal city of Pittsburgh.
Thanks buddy. I can see that I trained you well. LOL
Thanks. It is a fight, but it's fun and keeps me on my toes.
Thanks, that's a great summary of the 'lowlights' of his career. I'm sure that someone can help expand that list.
I'll be away for a little while, but will be back.
This ray is your typical liberal who 'used to be a republican until (fill in the blank). Don't let him fool anyone.
Nonsense. You are 100% ABSOLUTELY CORRECT regarding this issue and many people agree with you. If Specter were a moderate or a lukewarm conservative, those statements might be correct. HE ISN'T. Along with a very few others he is the most LIBERAL Republican in the legislature more LIBERAL then many democrats. Specter is a DEMOCRAT in sheep's clothing. AS HEAD OF THE JUDICIARY, a post he is due to assume if reelected, he will block any conservative judicial appointments and promote Liberal appointments. If he loses, a true conservative (darn if I haven't forgotten his name), with a conservative voting record of 95%, will head the Judiciary.
We are currently in no danger of losing our senate majority. On this one vote, at this particular time, VOTE FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN ARLEN SPECTER!
Specter offers to shake hands with someone who then declines...bet that made you feel real good, didn't it.
adb102 writes:
"Those wanting to play politics over principal at all costs are giving cover for Bush & Frist & Santorum. They see the willing cool-aid sippers and think they are on the right track. At some point we cross a line and become no better than the Dem's. For me Arlen is that line."
Amen! I couldn't have this better myself. It's been the topic of alot of discussion... over the year's, I've always despised the Democrat herd mentality of "pull the lever"... When I see the same drivel coming from the mouths of R's, I realize that faction of the 'R' party is no better... principles... priniciples... principles... in the end, it is all that matters!
Isn't this what you wanted, Badray? Your man is moving up within the Party. Everything in good time. It just wasn't his time to be Senator.
Methinks that Specter should get better security for his appearances.
Now there's a new line of work for me... ghost writing!
Ray... keep up the good work... going against the tide of popular (not necessarily correct) thinking is never easy.
Hey Badray! Stirring the pot again, I see. ;) LOL Good for you for speaking the truth to these people. I may not agree with your "solution" but I deeply respect your courage to stand up to the BS you saw and heard. I wish you and your state success getting rid of these Rhinos...oh come on, let's just call them what they really are; democRat-lites. Happy Memorial Day.
Could you vote for the Constitution Party candidate, Jim Clymer? Spectre will use his chairmanship of the judiciary committee to block the most conservative judges. As long as the GOP keeps the senate, Hoeffel is actually better for conservatives than Spectre for Judicial issues because of who would then chair that committee.
Now hold on there. Remember Toomey would have won if it wasn't for Bush. Specter owes Bush BIG TIME. Of course, the question is will Specter ever pay back?
Personally I was very upset when both Bush and Santorum backed Specter. They should have stayed out of this one.
But, I just can't see myself voting for a socialist.
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